Ringmore Cottage CP - Ringmore Down - Brisworthy Stone Circle

Dave Pawley

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Ringmore Down was not classified as access land until 2005, when CROW legislation resulted in it become open access land. Ringmore Down has many antiquities on it for those interested in finding them. Given an extra hour or so and a spirit of adventure, there are at least three stone circles, kistvaens, medieval longhouses and the like, all there to be found. However, this walk is designed around crossing the down, visiting the best of the three stone circles and the two tors which are located at either end of the down. Although both are magnificent tors, they are both characterized by the ease with which they can be climbed and the very differing views afforded from each of them. The first tor visited is Legis Tor and this sits at the south-western corner of Ringmore Down. The views to the south look right across the Lee Moor claypits where the man-made workings are clearly visible; many would also say they are intrusive. From the top of the same tor and looking to the north, the panorama of the Plym Valley rising dramatically up to Plym Head is there with its huge valley gerts off to the east, those of Spanish Lake and Hentor Brook to name but two. The stroll across to the second tor is very easy along the edge of the down and when you reach Gutter Tor the claypits are a thing of the past, out of sight if not out of mind. The views all round show magnificent moorland scenery and many tors are visible as the eye sweeps around. The two tors offer very differing spectacles, but both are well worth the easy ascent to the top stack. Gutter Tor has another surprise at the top stack: there is a wonderfully well-formed rock basin at the top - the photo linking to the walk on Walkingworld shows it very clearly.

England - South West England - Devon - Dartmoor